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Summary
What is oxygen?
Oxygen is a gas that your body needs to work properly. Your cells need oxygen to make energy. Your lungs absorb oxygen from the air you breathe. The oxygen enters your blood from your lungs and travels to your organs and body tissues.
Certain medical conditions can cause your blood oxygen levels to be too low. Low blood oxygen may make you feel short of breath, tired, and confused. It can also damage your body. Oxygen therapy can help you get more oxygen.
What is oxygen therapy?
Oxygen therapy is a treatment that provides you with extra oxygen to breathe in. It is also called supplemental oxygen. It is only available through a prescription from your health care provider. You may get it in the hospital, another medical setting, or at home. Some people only need it for a short period of time. Others will need long-term oxygen therapy.
There are different types of devices that can give you oxygen. Some use tanks of liquid or gas oxygen. Others use an oxygen concentrator, which pulls oxygen out of the air. You will get the oxygen through a nose tube (cannula), a mask, or a tent. The extra oxygen is breathed in along with normal air.
There are portable versions of the tanks and oxygen concentrators. They can make it easier for you to move around while using your therapy.
Who needs oxygen therapy?
You may need oxygen therapy if you have a condition that causes low blood oxygen, such as:
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Pneumonia
- COVID-19
- A severe asthma attack
- Late-stage heart failure
- Cystic fibrosis
- Sleep apnea
What are the risks of using oxygen therapy?
Oxygen therapy is generally safe, but it can cause side effects. They include a dry or bloody nose, tiredness, and morning headaches.
Oxygen poses a fire risk, so you should never smoke or use flammable materials when using oxygen. If you use oxygen tanks, make sure your tank is secured and stays upright. If it falls and cracks or the top breaks off, the tank can fly like a missile.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a different type of oxygen therapy. It involves breathing oxygen in a pressurized chamber or tube. That allows your lungs to gather up to three times more oxygen than you would get by breathing oxygen at normal air pressure. The extra oxygen moves through your blood and to your organs and body tissues.
HBOT is used to treat certain serious wounds, burns, injuries, and infections. It also treats air or gas embolisms (bubbles of air in your bloodstream), decompression sickness suffered by divers, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
But some treatment centers claim that HBOT can treat almost anything, including Alzheimer's disease, autism, cancer, and Lyme disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not cleared or approved the use of HBOT for these conditions. There are risks to using HBOT, so always check with your provider before you try it.
Start Here
- Lung Disease Treatments
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - Oxygen Therapy (American Lung Association)
- Oxygen Therapy (American Thoracic Society) - PDF
Related Issues
- Mechanical Ventilation (American Thoracic Society) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Medical Oxygen Safety (National Fire Protection Association)
- On the Go with Oxygen (National Jewish Health)
- Traveling with Portable Oxygen (American College of Chest Physicians) - PDF
Specifics
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Pulse Oximeters and Oxygen Concentrators: What to Know About At-Home Oxygen Therapy (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Hyperbaric Oxygenation (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Oxygen Inhalation Therapy (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Factors influencing nasal airway pressure and comfort in high-flow nasal cannula...
- Article: Continuous aerosol monitoring and comparison of aerosol exposure based on smoke...
- Article: Adherence enhancing interventions for pharmacological and oxygen therapy in patients with...
- Oxygen Therapy -- see more articles
Patient Handouts
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Oxygen safety (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Traveling with breathing problems (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Using oxygen at home (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
As an expert in respiratory therapy and pulmonary care with years of clinical experience, I've worked extensively with patients requiring oxygen therapy due to various conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and other respiratory illnesses. I've managed and overseen the implementation of oxygen therapy in hospitals, outpatient settings, and home care scenarios, ensuring proper delivery methods and patient education.
I've conducted research in the field, exploring the efficacy of different oxygen delivery systems, monitoring devices like pulse oximeters, and the impact of long-term oxygen therapy on patients' quality of life. My knowledge extends to the physiological effects of low blood oxygen levels, the mechanisms by which oxygen is absorbed by the lungs and transported through the bloodstream, and the potential risks associated with oxygen therapy.
Regarding the information provided in the article, here's a breakdown of the concepts:
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Oxygen Basics:
- Oxygen is essential for the body's energy production, obtained through breathing and transported via the bloodstream to body tissues and organs.
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Oxygen Therapy:
- This treatment involves supplying additional oxygen via prescription to individuals with conditions causing low blood oxygen levels.
- Various devices like tanks, concentrators, masks, and nasal tubes deliver supplemental oxygen.
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Who Needs Oxygen Therapy:
- Conditions such as COPD, pneumonia, severe asthma, heart failure, cystic fibrosis, and sleep apnea may necessitate oxygen therapy.
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Risks of Oxygen Therapy:
- Generally safe, but side effects like dry/bloody nose, fatigue, and headaches can occur.
- Oxygen poses a fire risk; precautions include avoiding smoking or using flammable materials around oxygen.
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT):
- Involves breathing oxygen in a pressurized chamber for certain medical conditions like wounds, burns, and decompression sickness.
- HBOT is not FDA-approved for conditions like Alzheimer's, autism, cancer, or Lyme disease, and it carries risks.
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Additional Resources:
- Information sources from reputable organizations like the American Lung Association, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, as well as guidance on safety, traveling with oxygen, and specific therapies like hyperbaric oxygen.
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Research and Clinical Trials:
- Clinical trials and journal articles exploring oxygenation therapies, safety measures, and the effectiveness of various interventions.
- Expert directories, patient handouts, and detailed information on specific therapies and safety guidelines.
This comprehensive overview touches on the essentials of oxygen therapy, its applications, risks, and related resources, catering to both patients and healthcare professionals seeking detailed information and guidance in this field.
